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June 24th, 2019: Sidewalks Are For Trash, Not E-bikes

Monday Increasing clouds, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night A slight chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

If you are getting out of a cab or car, be sure to look before you exit! It could save a life if someone is coming by on a bike. It's known as the "Dutch Reach" technique, but whatever you call it, please: safety first—look before you get out!https://t.co/SFfyAmHf7W

"Licensing and similar proposals for e-bikes would be yet another unfounded tool in the mayor’s proven racist policy harassing food delivery workers of color, and should be dismissed outright."https://t.co/WhVskCZO7F

“I have heard a number of concerns from safety advocates who don’t believe we should allow scooters, e-bikes on sidewalks with pedestrians,” Cuomo told reporters Friday in Albany, citing advocates who want a helmet-wearing requirement added to the law.

Current state and city law prohibits e-bike and e-scooter riders from streets and sidewalks. Violators face a $500 fine.

Since e-bikes and e-scooters are already not allowed on the sidewalk, presumably the the helmet-wearing requirement would apply to pedestrians.

Also, it's 2019, e-bikes aren't "new:"

“When does a bike with an engine become a bike that should be registered as a motor vehicle and licensed? Remember mopeds? At one point it’s a motor vehicle…what point is that?

“These e-bikes are new, but I think that’s gonna be a broader conversation,” Cuomo added.

These people need to do a Dutch Reach and get out of the car every once in awhile.

The stretch of Southern Boulevard where this occurred is next to the Bronx Zoo, close to the pedestrian entrance and also right by a school. And as I've previously addressed, Bronx CB6 is :

Here's their "reasoning:"

As a matter of fact, even Clarita Bailon, who serves as the CB6 Transportation Committee chair, spoke out against the DOT’s plan.

Her position carries major significance since it was coming from someone who is bound to a wheelchair after being struck by a car herself.

Bailon’s main objection comes from her own personal experiences with cyclists not adhering to traffic rules in, on top of the reasons already given by the community.

Amazing.

But to be fair, they're not just worried about those reckless bicyclists. They're also worried that the neighborhood will no longer be overrun with cars from the suburbs:

“Most of Arthur Avenue’s patrons drive in from Westchester, Connecticut and elsewhere,” Sanchez said fearing the plan would hurt the small businesses if customers can’t park in close proximity.

Ah yes, if only there were a commuter rail network that provided frequent service from those very suburbs to a station just a short walk away from the heart of Little Italy so you could drink all the Chianti you wanted without having to worry about parking or driving back to White Plains:

Imagine also if you will that there were pedal-assist bicycles available to those visitors all over the neighborhood:

Now what if I told you that all of these things already exist, and that safer streets would make the neighborhood more walkable and more bikeable, which would in turn benefit both local residents and all the businesses that cater to suburban day-trippers.

The appropriate response to all this, of course, is "Ridiculous! This isn't Amsterdam."

By the way, the DOT also wants to bring the redesign all the way up to Mosholu Parkway, which could potentially connect both the Bronx Zoo and the Botanical Gardens to the Mosholu-Pelham Greenway, both of which are lamentably difficult to reach by bicycle:

While the DOT has not established a timetable for the redesign of Southern Boulevard, there will be another component of the plan that spans as far north, to Mosholu Parkway from Southern Boulevard.

Finally, while Cuomo wants e-bikes off the sidewalk, Antonio Reynoso wants trash off the sidewalk people can actually use them:

.@ReynosoBrooklyn says he is going to draft a bill to get trash off curbs and sidewalks by — “I want to be clear, taking away a parking space.” “It’s coming to a neighborhood near you soon, don’t be upset.” 🗑 🚘